A FUNERAL director has stepped in to help restore part of a cemetery that has been wrecked by vandals.

More than 60 gravestones - some belonging to children - had been smashed or knocked over at Farnworth Cemetery in Lower Rawson Street at the weekend.

Flowers, plants and keepsakes were ripped up and scattered about and one grave was partially dug up.

Now Arthur Brammall Memorials, a funeral director and stonemasons based in Manchester Road, Bolton, has announced it will repair all gravestones damaged free of charge.

Damaged

Mrs McGowan said: "We have been dealing with the community around here for such a long time we wanted to put something back.

"We put in a lot of the gravestones that were damaged. This attack has caused an awful lot of offence to families."

Police have already begun the "massive and complicated" task of contacting relatives of the damaged headstones, some of which are more than 200 years old. And they have been gathering forensic evidence from the site.

Det Sgt Roy Sherlock, of Bolton CID - who has called the attack "thoughtless, disrespectful and disgusting" - said: "This act has caused untold emotional damage to the friends and relatives of those buried at the cemetery."

Workers discovered the damage on Saturday morning and Bolton Council are now planning to review security. A spokesman said: "All gates are locked at dusk and security staff carry out a sweep of our cemeteries to inform people of the closure."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.